Springboks: How team could line up after injury scare

The Springboks have already headed on tour without several star players who are sidelined with injury, but Rassie Erasmus does still have a strong 37-man squad to choose from.

However, there is another new concern after Bulls star Cameron Hanekom was replaced at half-time in the Bulls’ 54-26 win over Scarlets at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday due to a back problem.

Although Bulls coach Johan Ackermann did say it was mostly precautionary, it could mean that Hanekom won’t be risked for this Saturday’s Test against Italy.

“He struggled a little bit with his lower back quite early in the game, and we asked to push him until half-time, and credit to him, he hung in there,” Ackermann said.

“At half-time the medical staff wanted to treat him and I just felt we don’t need that. We’ve got Marcell (Coetzee), so let’s just make it a straight swap, to protect him as well. So no, he’s fine, but he was battling with his lower back.”

It will be interesting to see what sort of team Erasmus could select against Italy this weekend considering it is probably the last game this year where the Springbok coach may consider exposing a few newcomers.

Considering the injuries to Eben Etzebeth and Handre Pollard, perhaps the door could even open for debuts for youngsters Riley Norton and Luan Giliomee, who are among six uncapped players in the travelling group.

HOW THE SPRINGBOKS COULD LINE UP

South Africa (possible): 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Ethan Hooker, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Lood de Jager, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Riley Norton, 20 Paul de Villiers, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Luan Giliomee, 23 Canan Moodie.

Full squad for second leg of Nations Championship:

Props: Thomas du Toit, Ox Nche (both Hollywoodbets Sharks), Wilco Louw, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Zachary Porthen (all DHL Stormers), Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls).

Hookers: Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Vodacom Bulls).

Locks: Lood de Jager (Wild Knights), Salmaan Moerat (Stade Rochelais), Ruan Nortje (Kubota Spears), Riley Norton (DHL Stormers), Franco Mostert (Honda Heat).

Loose forwards: Paul de Villiers, Siya Kolisi (both DHL Stormers), Cameron Hanekom (Vodacom Bulls), Emmanuel Tshituka (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks).

Utility forwards: Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls).

Scrumhalves: Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers), Morne van den Berg (10bet Lions), Grant Williams (Kobe Steelers).

Flyhalves: Yaqeen Ahmed, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (both DHL Stormers), Luan Giliomee (Vodacom Bulls), Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners).

Centres: Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Markus Muller (DHL Stormers), Canan Moodie (Vodacom Bulls).

Outside backs: Sebastian de Klerk (Vodacom Bulls), Aphelele Fassi, Ethan Hooker, Edwill van der Merwe (all Hollywoodbets Sharks), Kurt-Lee Arendse (Mitsubishi Dynaboars), Damian Willemse (DHL Stormers).